Request for GitHub Student Pack Extension - PhD Program Duration

[jayus71]

Hi everyone,

Dear GitHub Education Team,

I hope this email finds you well. I am writing to request an extension of my GitHub Student Pack benefits to align with my actual program duration.

Current Situation:

• GitHub Username: jayus71
• Github Primary Email: [PII removal]
• Student Pack Application Email: [PII removal]
• Current Student Pack Validity: 2 years
• Program Start Date: September 2025

Request Details:
I am a PhD student who will begin my doctoral program in September 2025. While I successfully obtained the GitHub Student Pack with a 2-year validity period, my PhD program has an official duration of 4-6 years, which is standard for doctoral programs.

The 2-year limitation significantly restricts my ability to fully utilize GitHub's educational resources throughout my entire academic journey. As a PhD student, I will be conducting extensive research, developing complex projects, and collaborating with fellow researchers over the full duration of my program.

Supporting Documentation:
I have attached both Chinese and English versions of my official enrollment certificate as proof of my PhD program duration and current student status.

Request:
I respectfully request that you extend my GitHub Student Pack benefits to cover the full duration of my PhD program (4-6 years) to ensure continuous access to these valuable educational resources throughout my doctoral studies.

I understand that GitHub Education aims to support students throughout their academic journey, and I believe this extension would greatly contribute to my research success and academic development.

Thank you for considering my request. I would be happy to provide any additional documentation or information if needed. I look forward to your positive response.

Best regards,

Hongbo Chen
PhD Student
University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (UESTC)
Email: [PII removal]
Student Email: [PII removal]
GitHub Username: jayus71

[jayus71]

Supporting Documentation:
I have attached both Chinese and English versions of my official enrollment certificate as proof of my PhD program duration and current student status.

If necessary, I can send the supporting documents to the specified email address.

[imDarshanGK]

Hi @jayus71,

You should contact GitHub Education Support directly via the contact form on their website. You can explain your situation and attach your enrollment certificate there.

[jayus71]

Thanks for the reply. I thought this was the official support website.

[davevad93]

Hi @jayus71,

GitHub Education benefits last for two years and can't be automatically renewed. However, when your benefits expire, you can reapply by submitting the form in your benefits settings.

[jayus71]

Thanks for the reply. I will update it manually when the validity period expires.

[X5464]

Hey, just to share my experience — GitHub Education usually doesn’t extend the Student Pack for the entire PhD duration in one go. They set it for 2 years, and if you’re still enrolled when it’s about to expire, you just re-apply with updated proof.

I know it’s a bit annoying for long programs like PhDs, but that’s the way they handle it for everyone. As long as you can show you’re still a student, you’ll keep getting access.

[seanmarlon903]

The GitHub Student Pack is valid for 2 years, but you can reapply and renew with updated proof of enrollment as long as you remain a student.

[UnmeshPatra]

From what I know, GitHub Education usually grants the Student Pack for 2 years at a time, but students can re-verify and renew as long as they’re still enrolled. So even though your PhD is 4–6 years, you should be able to extend it later by re-submitting proof of enrollment.

[Raghunandan0]

Hi @jayus71,

GitHub Student Developer Pack benefits are valid for two years at a time and cannot be extended in advance. When your current benefits expire, you can reapply through your Education benefits settings
with updated proof of enrollment to continue access throughout your PhD program.

[Raghunandan0]

GitHub Student Developer Pack benefits are granted for two years at a time and cannot be extended in advance. However, when your current benefits expire, you can reapply to maintain access throughout your PhD program.

To do this:

1. Go to your Education Benefits Settings.

2. Submit updated proof of enrollment (such as your valid student ID or enrollment certificate).

3. Once verified, your benefits will be renewed for another two years.

This process can be repeated as long as you remain enrolled in your program.

[anirbandas-01]

Here’s what you can do:

Keep your verification documents
– You’ve already mentioned having your enrollment certificate in both Chinese and English, which is excellent. You’ll need to submit updated proof again when you reapply.

Reapply before expiration
– Go to GitHub Education
→ click “Get benefits” again when your pack is about to expire.
– Submit updated documentation showing you are still enrolled in your PhD program.

Duration for PhD students
– GitHub Education supports renewals for as long as you remain an enrolled student. Even if your program is longer than 2 years, you can keep renewing with updated proof until you complete your PhD.

Important note: At the moment, GitHub does not extend Student Pack benefits beyond 2 years in one application, even for doctoral students. Renewal is the standard process.

[Felixzebaoth]

Hi Hongbo,

Thanks for sharing your case in detail. Unfortunately, the GitHub Student Developer Pack is only granted in 2-year periods by default, even for longer programs such as PhDs. However, there’s a straightforward way to keep your benefits active for the entire duration of your doctoral studies: you can re-verify your student status when the 2-year period ends by re-submitting your valid student ID or enrollment certificate.

As long as you remain enrolled and can provide updated proof (such as your PhD enrollment letter or a current student card), you’ll be able to renew your Student Pack access multiple times throughout your program.

👉 Here’s the official guidance: GitHub Education: How to reapply
.

So in short: while GitHub can’t grant a 4–6 year approval in one go, you won’t lose access — you’ll just need to re-apply every 2 years with updated documentation.

Hope this clears things up, and best of luck with your PhD research! 🚀

[ramasheshasai]

Hi Hongbo,

I completely understand your concern about the GitHub Student Pack not covering the full duration of a PhD program. The way the program works right now is that the benefits are provided in 2-year increments. Once that period ends, it’s possible to renew the pack by reapplying with updated proof of enrollment (such as a student ID or enrollment certificate).

It isn’t possible to extend it for 4–6 years in one go, but as long as you remain an active student, you can keep reapplying and your benefits will be extended each time. You can manage this directly through the GitHub Education portal here: https://education.github.com/discount_requests/application
.

This way, you’ll be able to continue using the pack throughout your PhD journey.

Hope this helps, and best of luck with your research!

[Sarvesh-Shelgaonkar]

Dear jayus,

Thank you for reaching out to the GitHub Education Team and for sharing the details of your situation. We appreciate your interest in continuing to use the GitHub Student Developer Pack throughout your PhD program.

Currently, the GitHub Student Developer Pack is issued for two years at a time, regardless of program length. However, you can renew your Pack as long as you remain a verified student. When your current Pack is nearing expiration, you’ll be able to reapply by providing up-to-date proof of enrollment (such as your student ID, enrollment certificate, or other documentation that confirms your active student status).

This means that while we cannot extend your Student Pack for the full 4–6 years in one request, you will be able to maintain continuous access by renewing before your current benefits expire.

You can find more details on how to renew here:
👉 GitHub Education Renewal Guide

We encourage you to set a reminder to renew in advance so there is no interruption in your benefits.

Thank you again for your request, and best of luck in your PhD program at UESTC!

Best regards,
GitHub Education Team